Sea Urchin's as chum?

[Lexy]

That's funny!

We'll call it Kelp Side Story.

[Enter a gang of Garabaldi snapping their fins (since they don't have fingers) and singing]

:musical_n When you a fish, you're a fish all the way,
From your first urchin taste to your last dying day. :musical_n

Start the auditions!

Christian

OMG, I laughed so hard at your post. Thanks for the laugh. For some reason, the Garabaldi just strike me as a goofy, humorous fish. Must be the color. But from the photos, those Garabaldi look plain ole' mean!

 

[scottfiji]

Most fish are seriuously curious. To make that sound with bare hands is really easy just hit your plam really hard, you can also snap your fingers really hard and it will carry well too.
If you are in a sandy area, just settle on the bottom (watch for urchins- those things hurt) and start digging in the sand, the fish will come to scavenge for leftovers as they think you are feeding.

I also find making various noises attracts the fish pretty well. After trying several methods, the one that I think works the best is the following: find one of those spiny, pointy purple/black/blue urchin-like things (don't step on them!), get a sharp knife, thrust the knife into the thing rapidly, making a loud noise. Without removing the knife, turn the knife rapidly clockwise and counter-clockwise, creating more noises. These noises will attract various blacksmith, kelp bass, garibaldi, and senorita immediately, allowing you to experience their curiosity first hand. Snapping your fingers really hard in the middle of the yellowish-substance that comes out of the spiny-thing will further attract the fish.

 

[Rick Inman]

For example, divers in BC tend to feed Wolf-Eels to get them out. (although still frowned upon) The best way to do this is to purchase scallops (naturally eaten, and only a few) from a store, and bring them down with you.

Taking marine life to feed marine life is definately a no-no (especially in parks) and feeding human food is also a no-no...

We use hot dogs, which do not count as human food.

As for the urchins, when I was living and diving in S. CA in the 70's, we had "Hammer Days" where groups of us organized by the dive shop would take hammers and dive with the intent of destroying as many urchins as possible. Mostly in Palos Verde. It was looked upon as a positive way to help the oceans.
How times have changed...

 

[JDog]

I also find making various noises attracts the fish pretty well. After trying several methods, the one that I think works the best is the following: find one of those spiny, pointy purple/black/blue urchin-like things (don't step on them!), get a sharp knife, thrust the knife into the thing rapidly, making a loud noise. Without removing the knife, turn the knife rapidly clockwise and counter-clockwise, creating more noises. These noises will attract various blacksmith, kelp bass, garibaldi, and senorita immediately, allowing you to experience their curiosity first hand. Snapping your fingers really hard in the middle of the yellowish-substance that comes out of the spiny-thing will further attract the fish.

Now THAT'S a funny post.

I sense a rapid salvo of post that may not agree with this method.

 

[Talldiverman]

I also find making various noises attracts the fish pretty well. After trying several methods, the one that I think works the best is the following: find one of those spiny, pointy purple/black/blue urchin-like things (don't step on them!), get a sharp knife, thrust the knife into the thing rapidly, making a loud noise. Without removing the knife, turn the knife rapidly clockwise and counter-clockwise, creating more noises. These noises will attract various blacksmith, kelp bass, garibaldi, and senorita immediately, allowing you to experience their curiosity first hand. Snapping your fingers really hard in the middle of the yellowish-substance that comes out of the spiny-thing will further attract the fish.

I am laughing my a** off!

 

[Bisch7]

Actually popping urchins will spread the rate of the urchin population...The more you pop open the quicker they spread and the end result is a dead reef... Laguna Beach is recovering from years of divers feeding the fish with urchins.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Urban legend.

Sea Urchins are often found living in clumps from five to ten. They have the ability to regenerate lost spines. Lifespan often exceeds 30 years, and scientists have found some specimens to be over 200 years old.[2] Spawning peaks between June and September. Eggs are fertilized externally while they float in the ocean, and planktonic larvae (echinopluteus) remain in the water column for about a month before settling on the bottom of the sea floor, where they undergo metamorphosis into juvenile urchins. These juveniles use chemical cues to locate adults. Although juveniles are found almost exclusively under aggregated adults, the adults and juveniles are not directly related. Red Sea Urchins can effectively reproduce even if they are incredibly old.

 

[drbill]

With the Casino Point Dive Park soon to become an officially recognized MPA, killing urchins will be illegal... as will poaching and formerly "legal" take of lobster. It's long overdue. Thanks to all the divers who have treated the Dive Park as a reserve in the past so other divers could enjoy it.

 

[fnfalman]

I can't think of a good reason why sea urchins in an area where they infested and denuded the joint of kelps can't be killed off and feed some of the fishies at the same time.

 

[Bob DBF]

Good info, I think many are misinformed about the urchin population in Catalina. on the first trip I made there in the about '97 I was told that the urchins were destroying the kelp forest by eating the bases away. The overpopulation of urchins was caused by the disappearance of the sea otters. So it was a man caused problem and all you had to do help save the reef was to feed an urchin or two to the fish on your dive.

Apparently this is just a bunch of crap :11: and I have needlessly killed a few urchin and trained a few fish to eat from divers.
Industry education on these things needs to improve to save our beautiful reefs!

Up here in Norcal we had a problem with urchins until they were taken by urchin divers and the roe sent to Japan. Now it's hard to find one if you would like a taste of Uni yourself. Never thought I'd feel sorry for an urchin.


Bob
--------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.